East-West vulnerable.  
East deals.
                              North
                              S: J 7 4 2          
                              H: K           
                              D: A J 9 8 3 2 
                              C: Q 10   
            West                             East
            S: Q 10 9 5                      S: 6            
            H: Q 10 9 3 2                    H: J 8 7 4    
            D: 10 6                          D: K 5 4             
            C: 8 7                           C: A 6 5 4 2   
                              South                         
                              S: A K 8 3
                              H: A 6 5      
                              D: Q 7       
                              C: K J 9 3  
          The Bidding:  
                   East   South    West    North                  
                   Pass    1NT      Pass    2C  
                   Pass    2S       Pass    4NT 
                   Pass    5C       Pass    6S  
                   Pass    Pass     Pass    
          Opening lead: H3
     Some of the best lessons in bridge come from errors that
resulted in bad results.  This is just such a hand.  During a
team event, North felt that his distribution justified a slam
try.  The methods that were being used would have allowed North
to bid three diamonds after South showed his spade suit.  This
would have been forcing and would indicate a five or six card
suit.  South would have bid three no trump and North would then
correct to four spades, which, in and of itself is a tough play.
     In the sequence shown, 4NT should be a quantitative bid
showing four hearts and enough points to go to slam opposite a
maximum no trump opening.  Four Clubs would have been a Gerber
bid, asking for aces.
     At any event, the only chance for six spades is to find the
queen of spades doubleton and the king of diamonds onside.  Since
neither of these possibilities existed, the result was down
three.
     At the other table, four spades was bid and made.  The heart
lead was won with the king.  A spade to the ace was the entry for
the diamond finesse, losing to East.  The heart return was won in
hand with the ace and a small spade was led toward the jack. 
     West played the nine.  The jack won and a small spade to the
king was the entry that enabled South to ruff his last heart. 
Diamonds were played from the top and all the defense could come
to was the king of diamonds, the ace of clubs and the queen of
spades.